OUR BABIES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23687, 20 December 1938, Page 16

OUR BABIES

T By Hygeia Published under the auspices of the Royal New Zealand Society for the Health of Women and (Children > (Plunket Society). • fit Is wiser to put up a fence at the top of a precipice than to maintain an ambulance at the bottom." SUGGESTIONS FOR THE FEEDING OF THE TODDLERS i FROM 18 MONTHS ONWARDS The mother must plan wisely and cook well, with knowledge and discrimination in her choice of foodstuffs. Some contain more elements for growth than others, and it is important that she does not overcook or throw away the good in the food. The use of. •Fa'tapar paper, double steamers, and' casseroles should be Encouraged, as the > essential goodness in the food is then retained. Regularity is still as important for for the three-month-old baby. Three meals a day, no pieces of any sort or. milk between meals; only water :or fruit juice to. drink between meals. ' - Remember the importance of ample exercise for jaws and teeth, and consequently the. great need for giving a large part of the diet in the form of hard, tough, or dry foods. Give the dry foodstuffs in a dry state, and the fluid as drink, rather than combine the two to make pap food. For instance, oatcake or brown bread and butter, with milk to drink, is better for health and digestion than gruels and bread and milk. Do not forget the importance of the daily use of fresh fruit and vegetables, especially of some uncooked fruits and green vegetables such as spinach and .lettuce. The child who is having a .well-balanced diet does not need an unlimited supply of milk. One pint daily is ample, including that used in cooking, and the amount varying according to whether meat, fish, or eggs are .given as well. •:■■. Tea and coffee are as harmful to children as ample pure water is'necessary and good. Light meats, such as chicken, brains, and sweetbreads, may be given in small quantities; but there is a general tendenucy to give too much too early. v Ample.. fiesh-formihg foods .can be given in tie form of milk, eggs, and fish. •'•' ■ ,-.:.<' : : % The undue use of preserved and tinned foods is damaging to the health. The practice of sweet-eating should be wholly as being ruinous to teeth and digestion; After 18 months a wider range .of foods is permissible. The use of hard and dry foods should be increased and include oven-dried wholemeal bread and oatcake. Give a pint of scalded milk daily and enough water for drinking. Encourage the child to drink fruit and vegetable juices, raw and cooked. Machines for. extracting juices can be obtained from the large hardware shops. Fruit.—Give some raw .fruit daily, apples and oranges being safest and best; though, if fresh, sound, and ripe, anv of the ordinary, fruits will do. Seeded fruits, such as gooseberries, raspberries, blackberries, ; or.. strawberries, must be given cautiously only in strict moderation, as they.tend to cause diarrhoea. Bananas and peal's need to be given sparingly, too, as they are soft, and the child tends to bolt them without sufficient mastication. To avoid this such fruits should be mashed and.used- .sandwiches^ ensuring plenty of chewing. Cooked fruits should be , prepared . with dates, raisins,-.or.honey for sweetening purposes. In winter, wheti fresh fru|ts other than apple* or granges, are .hard to get the use of some dried fruits such as peaches apricots, and primes may be used: also dates, and raises are valuable fruits sa| all .times. a Vegetables. vegetables, which must be • given Btt the mid-day meal every day. Add &o the"list tender green and root vegetables-- Brussels sprouts asparagus .tips,, peas, marrow, tomatoes, onions, kumeras, etc. As soon as a child chews property introduce a llttlfl.raw vegetable. Finely chopped lettuce for parsley sprinkled, on thepotato tag good way to commence, and wsu Condition - the, child-J to the takfg of more raw vegetable salads lawr on* . 'F Meats.— Choice may be made from brains chicken, rabbit, or sweetbreads. , „' . JL Fish.-Sea fish and; "tell A* «* important foods, and should be inchfded fn the diet about twice a week in the place of meat or Oystas Se particularly valuable and may g eaten raw or cooked. Sole flounder, whiting and cod are also. suiiame. Fishl should be steamed or baked. | Puddings.-A milk - puddinsr eve|y day is not necessary if a chi d drinking one pint of mill: daily:Jg if the required amount is not taken in drinks puddings .should be given. Junket, custard (baked or steamed), Spanish cream, milkjelly, and baked brown rice are suitable puddings, alio jellies made with fruit ]uices ajd fruit salads. ... | A DAY'S MENU FOR THE | TWC-YEAR-OLD | Early morning drink of water |»r diluted fruit juice. ' :•• ■ - | Breakfast (7.30 to 8 a.m.).—Whojeme B al brSd and butter or whole* or oatmeal porridge, si*: toieight tab|--spoonfuls, with two to three ouncesji top milk: drink of milk, and watf. piece of raw, ripe apple. | Dinner (12 to 12.30 P-?.) --Steamed or baked fish, brains, chicken, rabbit or sweetbreads, one dessertspoonful a potato baked in it* jacket, cauliflower, or other vegetable; fruit salad or stewed fruit one to two tablespoqnfuls; piece of raw, ripe apple. ,; N.8.-If the child has a gbod appetite and takes all mixed foods well, it may not be necessary to give milk to dri«K at dinner; otherwise give three to lour ounces of milk and water. ' | Tea (4.30 to 5 p.m.) .-Wholemeal bread sandwiches fillings made from nuts (minced), dates, raisins, lettuce, tomato, chopped parsley, marmite, or finely grated cheese; dnnfr.J** milk and water; raw, ripe apple. ■%